by Christopher Dean, Will Hochman, Carra Hood, and Robert McEachern

The Many Colored Coat of the Emperor: Multi-layered, Literate, and Physical: Node II
By Chris Dean

Praise be to Multi-layered, Literate Things: An Introduction of Sorts

I have been using computers in various composition and English education classrooms for about eight years--not an ungodly long time, but long enough to not be a newbie. However, I didn't really move into using computers to conduct chats until I taught in a wireless computer lab at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) that Will Hochman so admirably describes in "Why Wireless Laptops."

What I found in the wireless lab was this: a space where students could move about the room, engage in electronic discourse, create traditional written discourse, and, perhaps most importantly, co-create oral discourse. It was only when I began teaching in a wireless laptop lab that chat began to seem rich enough, textured enough, and layered enough to make sense to me. In retrospect, I realize that this was because the wireless lab opened up space, both physical and pedagogical, to my students and myself that they and I hadn't experienced before.

I want to start with the texture of the electronic space that opened up--a space infused with the Solomon-like wisdom of Cynthia Selfe, Gail Hawisher, and Howard Gardner. Next, I will discuss how orality infuses cyberspace by creating a compelling blend of computer-mediated secondary orality and speech. I end this webtext with the theoretical and practical implications associated with pedagogical spaces that give students access to electronic and physical learning environments.

So, brethren, step into my world of laptop. Walk through the valley of the shadow of the desktop, and maybe I can bring us a little closer to the Word of hypertext. God knows I can't tell the truth here, but I can share a truth based on my experience.

Node Three of "The Many Colored Coat of the Emperor"